Horn control circuit



Sept. 15, 1942.= '1. WHITE ETAL 2,296,131

I HORN CONTROL CIRCUIT Find May 2e, 1939 32 7; x 7)al BRA/re .wv/nw O 70' 1 I BR Kes V l w d 50 4g .c +0 BRAKE sw/rcH W Q 4: 7: l D C 7 4 INV ORS I Z7.. wig' L JIJ-3 A N v f 524V I v ATTORNEY@ Y? I WW y Patented Sept. 15, 1942 UIXIITIEDy YSTATES PATENT OFFICE HORN CONTROL CIRCUIT .aware ApplicationMay 26, 1939,-Serial No. 2755895 11 Claims.

This invention relates to systems of controlling automobile horns and more rparticularly to systems including a low volume horn for city driving and a high volume Vhorn for country or high speed driving.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a system of control in which the pressing of the horn button causes a low volume horn to sound in normal city driving but which will cause the 'high volume horn to sound also if the horn button is pressed at a time when the hydraulic brakes are applied. The system provides for sounding the high volume horn as well as the low volume horn when the horn button is pressed at a time when the vehicle speed eX- ceeds a limit, prescribed 'for city drivingr for example a speed in excess of 35 M. P. H.

AFurther objects `and advantages ofthe present invention will Vbe apparent from the following description, reference being Vhad to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Figs. 1, 2 3 and 4 are diagrams of various embodiments of the present invention.

`Referring to Fig. l numeral 20 designates the low volume horn and '2l the high volume horn. One terminal of the ,low volume horn 20 is grounded and Ythe other `terminal is connected by wire r22 with relay contact 23 which is normally out.of engagement with contact 24 carried by armature 25 connected by wire 25 with battery `21 which is grounded. Wire 261s connected with relay magnet winding A3l) connected by wire v3l with horn switch stationary contact 32 which may be bridged by horn button contact V33 with horn button stationary contact 34 which is grounded. When horn button 33 is pressed to connect contacts .32 and 3'4 relay winding 30 is energized and armature 25 is attracted thereby moving contact 24 into engagement with contact 23 in order to connect low volume horn .-20 withV battery 21. These are the circuits which are establishedduring normal city driving.

The action of the system is modied by circuit established thru the stop light switch 4I) labeled S..L. S. Switch 40 comprisesa uid pressure chamber provided by a housing 4l closed by a flexible diaphragm -42 capable of moving a contact 43 into engagement with stationary contacts 44 and 45. Contact 44 is connected with the vbattery by a wire 46, contact 45 is connected bya wire 41 with `grounded stop lamp 48.

vWire 41 is connected by wire `5tI-with relay magnet winding 5l whichiis grounded and which is also 55 50 the horn switchcontact32.

21 having its other terminal connectedby Wire-51 with Wire 22. When the 'brakes are applied the pressure developed in the V`hydraulic Vbraking system causes Athe diaphragm 42 to move clownwardly in Fig. 1 `in order to move contact A453 into engagement with contacts 44 and V-45 `to cause the lstop `signal v48 Ito burn yand to vcause the relay winding 5| to Abe energized. When this occurs `the armature 52 is attractedin order to close contacts 53 and 54. Therefore, when ,l5 the horn button 33 is'pressed at VVtl'ie'til'ne when the brakes are applied, the `following circuit will be established between the battery `21 andthe high volume horn 2l; batteryl'l, wire 2,5, Aarmature v25, contact`24, contact 2 3, Wire422, wire 51,

,20 high volume 'horn l2|, wires 5'6 and 55, contacts 54 and 53, and grounded armature 52. Therefore the high volume horn 2l will sound vsimultaneously with `the sounding of the low volume horn Aill), when the horn Vbutton 133 Lis pressed at a time when the brakes are applied.

At speeds abover `3,5 -P. H. the circuit -qf the high volumehorn is completed independently of operation of the `hydraulic brake system by means of an ga'ir switch Vcomprising a grounded vane contact V60 movable vinto engagement vwith vane'll will engage the contactl yto complete thefhigh volume horn circuit at the time the-button 33 is pressed so that, when driving at'hgher speeds generally attained when vdriving in ,the country, the Vhigh `volumehornas well as thelow volume horn Vwill 'be sounded `whenever 'the 'horn -buttonis pressed.

Fig. 42 shows a 'modification of the system shown irl-Fig. 1 in which only one relay is used but a separate hydraulic switch is required since 'the regular stop light switch cannotibe used .in

a single relay circuit. In 'Fig.-2-the battery Z1 is connected by Wires 10 ,and 1l with one terrminal of the low volume horn 20 the other terminal of which is connected by wires 12 with IWl'lenhorn b utton 33 `is pressed during ordinary city ldriving the low volume horn 2D will sound sinceit is ydirectly connected with the battery 21. 'The high volume horn l2l has one terminal grounded and the other connected by Wire 13 with relay contact 14 normally out of engagement with a contact 15 carried by armature 16 which is connected with wire and with relay magnet winding 11. Winding 11 is connected by wire 18 with contact 19 of a hydraulic switch which' includes a diaphragrn 30 carrying a contact 8| normally out of engagement with contact 19 and a second stationary contact 82 connected by wire 83 with wire 12. When the brakes are applied the separate hydraulic switch including the diaphragm 80 completes the circuit by the engagement of contact 8| with contact 13 and 82 thereby connecting relay winding 11 with the battery at the time the button 33 is pressed. This circuit includes battery 21, wire 10, winding 11, wire 18, contacts 19, 8| and 82, wire 83, wire 12, contacts 32, 33 and 34. When this circuit is completed by the closing of the hydraulic switch contacts 19, 8| and 82 and by the closing of the horn switch contacts 32, 33 and 34, the magnet coil 11 will be energized and armature 16 will be attracted and contacts 15 and 14 will be closed to connect the high volume horn with the battery 21 so that it will sound simultaneously with low horn 20. Thus both horns will sound when the brakes are applied and the horn switch is closed. This system of Fig. 2 includes the air switch comprising air Vane 60 and contact 6|. In Fig. 2 contact 6| is connected by wire 85 with wire 18 and vane 50 is connected by wire 86 with wire 12. At a speed above 35 M. P. H. for example, the air vane 60 engages the contact 6| so that, if the horn button is pressed, the circuit of relay winding 11 will be completed thru the Aair switch and the horn switch regardless of the application of brakes which would close the auxiliary hydraulic switch. Therefore it is apparent that both horns will be sounded when the horn button 33 is pressed at speeds above 35 M. P. H. `regardless of the application of hydraulic brakes.

Fig. 3 embodies a combination of some of the circuits of Figs. 1 and 2. The current for the low volume horn 20 passes through the horn buts ton switch as in Fig. 2. The stop light switch 40 controls the energization of relay magnet winding 5| as in Fig. 1. The relay magnet windving 11 of Fig. 2 is connected in Fig. 3 across line wires 10 and 12 so that this relay winding is energized every time the horn button 33 is closed.

`Winding 11 is connected by wire 90 to wire 12.

Wire 9| connects relay stationary contact 14 with relay armature 52. Wire 92 connects wire 9| with air switch vane 60. Wire 93 connects air switch contact 6| with wire 54 which connects high volume horn 2| with contact 54.

When the horn button 33 is closed in the circuit shown in Fig. 3, the low volume horn 20 will sound and winding 11 will be energized and contact 15 will engage contact 14. The circuit to the high volume horn 2| will be closed at this time provided contacts 53 and 54 are closed as the result of energization of relay winding 5| which will occur if the stop light switch 40 is lclosed as a result of the application of the hydraulic brakes'. When the horn button 33 is closed at the time the brakes are applied the circuit of the high Volume horn 2| shown in Fig. 3 will be as follows: battery 21, wire 10, the armature 16, contacts 15 and 14, wire 9|, armature 52, contacts 53 and 54, wire 94, horn 2|. At speeds above a certain speed, such as 35 M. P. H., the air switch vane contact 60 will engage contact 6| to complete the horn circuit independently of the closing of the stop light switch 40. This circuit will include battery 21, wire 10, armature 16, contacts 15 and 14, wire 92, air switch contacts 60 and 6|, wire 93, wire 94 and horn 2|.

The system shown in Fig. 4 embodies the features of Fig. 1 and adds a relay, in order to avoid passing current to the high volume horn directly through the air switch. This additional relay in Fig. 4 comprises a magnet winding |0| connected by wire |00 with wire 55 and with air switch contact 6|, and also connected with wire |02 which connects wire 22 with relay armature |03 carrying contact |04 which is normally out of engagement with contact |05 connected by wire |06 with high volume horn 2 In Fig. 4 the circuit of relay magnet winding |0| is completed, provided horn button 33 has been pressed to eiect through the energization of relay winding 30 the closing of contacts 23 and 24, and provided the stop light switch 43 is closed to effect through the energization of relay 5| the closing of contacts 53 and 54, or provided the air switch contacts 60 and 6| are closed in response to the attainment of speeds in excess of 35 M. P. H. for example. The energization of relay coil |0| eiects the attraction of armature |03 and the closing of contacts |04 and |05 to complete the high volume horn circuit comprising, battery 21, wire 26, armature 25, contacts 24 and 23, wire 22, Wire |02, armature |03, contacts |04, and |65, wire |06, and horn 2|. Therefore, in the system shown in Fig. 4 the relays which include, respectively, the windings 30 and 0|, carry all the horn operating currents. The only current carried by the air vane switch is that required to energize winding |0|.

As in the systems shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the system shown in Fig. 4 provides for the operation of the high volume horn as well as the low volume horn at any time when the driving speed exceeds a predetermined Value, such as 35 M. P. H., or whenever the brakes are applied. In addition to brake switch control and the air switch control provided for in the other iigures, Fig. 4 provides also for control by a switch responsive to the acceleration of the Vehicle in traiiic. This control comprises a stationary contact ||0 connected with wire |00, a stationary grounded contact and a movable bridging contact ||2 normally held by a spring ||3 out of engagement with contacts ||0 and Contact ||2 is operated by a rod ||4 located in the path of movement of the accelerator pedal l5. When the vehicle is accelerated in traiiic the pedal ||5 engages the rod ||4 and closes the contacts ||0, and |2 so that horn 2| will sound when the horn button 33 is pressed.

Any form of brake controlled switch may be substituted for the pressure iiuid switch shown, such as a mechanically operated switch operated by the brake pedal.

While in the specification and claims we have used the terms low volume horn and high volume horn, it will be understood that the present invention embraces any combination of horns or other signal devices which gives two distinct signals,v one for city driving and the other for country driving. For example, the automobile may be equipped with two horns of about the same Volume but diiering in pitch. The horn of lower pitch could be sounded alone for the city signal and both horns together for the country signal, or a pair of horns could be sounded together for the country signal and a separate single horn for the city signal.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all comingv within the scope ofthe claimsA which follow.

Whatv i'sclaimed is as follows:

11. A horn control system for automobiles comprising a current source., a series circuit comprising the current source, a manuallyA controlled switch and a low volume horn, a circuit in series with the manually controlled switch and in parallelwith the low volume horn and comprising a pair of normally open relay contacts and a high volume horn and a second circuit in series with the manually controlled switch and in parallel with the low volume horn and comprising an electromagnet coil for closing the relay contacts and a normally open switch closed automatically in response to a condition of vehicle operation.

2. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a low volume horn, a high volume horn, a manually controlled switch for connecting the low volume horn with the source, an automatically operated, normally open circuit making means in series with the high volume horn and both in a circuit paralleling the W volume horn, electromagnetic means for causing said circuit making means to make a connection in said paralleling circuit, and means for connecting the source with said electromag netic means and including a switch closed in response to the application of the vehicle brakes.

3. A system of control for automobile horns comprising .a current source, a low volume horn, a high Volume horn, a manually controlled switch for connecting the low volume horn with the source, an automatically operated, normally open circuit making means in series with the high volume horn and both in a circuit paralleling the low volume horn, a switch connected with the source and closed in response to the application of the vehicle brakes, parallel circuits connected by said switch with the source, one of said circuits including a signal lamp to indicate application of brakes, the other of said circuits including an electromagnet for causing said automatically operated circuit making means to make a connection in the circuit of the high Volume horn.

4. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a low volume horn, a high volume horn, a manually controlled switch for connecting the low volume horn with the source, an automatically operated, normally open circuit making means in series with the high volume horn and both in a circuit paralleling the low volume horn, aY second circuit paralleling the low volume horn and connected with the source through said manually controlled switch and including an electromagnet for closing the circuit making means of the high Volume horn circuit and including a switch closed in response to the application of the vehicle brakes.

5. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a low volume horn, a high volume horn, a manually controlled switch for connecting the low Volume horn with the source, a circuit paralleling the low volume horn and including the high volume horn and connected with two branch circuits leading to the current source, a switch in one branch for completing a connection between the source and high volume horn when a certain vehicle speed has been attained and provided the manually con- .in response to the application of the vehicle brakes. for connectingv the source and electromagnet.

6.. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a `low volume horn,

with ythe lamp Aa high volume horn, a manually operated switch for connecting the lo-w Volume hornV with the source, a circuit paralleling the low volume horn and including, in series, two pairs of switch contacts and the high volume horn, an electromagnet for closing one of said pairs of contacts and connected with the source through said manually operated switch, a second electromagnet for closing the other of said pairs of contacts, a signal lamp in parallel with said second electromagnet, and a switch closed in response to the application of the vehicle brakes for connecting the source with the lamp and the second electromagnet.

'7. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a low volume horn, a high volume horn, a manually operated switch for connecting the low volume horn with the source, a circuit paralleling the low volume horn and including, in series, two pairs of switch contacts and the high volume horn, an electromagnet for closing one of said pairs of contacts and connected with the source through said manually operated switch, and means responsive to the application of vehicle brakes for closing the second pair of contacts.

8. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a low volume horn, a high volume horn, a manually operated switch for connecting the low Volume horn with the source, a circuit paralleling the low volume horn and including, in series, two pairs of switch contacts and the high volume horn, an electromagnet for closing one of said pairs of contacts and connected with the source through said manually operated switch, means responsive to the application of vehicle brakes for closing the second pair of contacts, and a switch for by-passing the second pair of contacts when a certain vehicle speed has been attained.

9. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a low volume horn, a high volume horn, a manually controlled switch connected With the source, three parallel circuits connected with the source through said manually controlled switch, one circuit including the low Volume horn, another circuit including the high volume horn and a pair of contacts in series, and another circuit including an electromagnetV for closing said pair of contacts and a second pair of switch contacts, a second electromagnet Ifor closing said last -mentioned pair of contacts, a signal lamp in parallel with said second electromagnet, and, a switch closed in response to the application of the Vehicle brakes for connecting the source with the lamp and the second electromagnet.

10. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a low volume horn, a high Volume horn, a manually controlled switch for connecting the low volume horn with the source, an automatically operated, normally open circuit making means in series with the high volurne horn and both in a circuit paralleling the low volume horn, electromagnetic means for causing said circuit making means to make a connection in said paralleling circuit, and means for connecting the source with said electromagnetic means and including a switch closed in response to depression of the accelerator pedal to an extent required for acceleration of the vehicle in traffic.

11. A system of control for automobile horns comprising a current source, a low volume horn, a high volume horn, a manually controlled switch for connecting the low volume horn With the source, an automatically operated, normally open circuit making means in series with the high volume horn and both in a circuit paralleling the low Volume horn, electromagnetic means for causing said circuit making means to make a connection in said paralleling circuit and means for connecting the source with said electromagnetic means and including a switch closed in response to depression of the accelerator pedal to an extent required for acceleration of the vehicle in traic, and a switch for by-passing the last mentioned switch when a certain vehicle speed 10 has been attained.

JOE WHITE. JOI-IN W. FALCONER. 

